Yemi Akinsuyi/
A 37-year-old woman, Torkwase Queen Ayakpa, has been arrested for arranging her own kidnap to extort N20, 000 from her elder sister in Abuja.
Queen was one of 24 suspects paraded by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command for various offences today.
She confessed that she conspired with one Fidelis Ikule, 36, to stage the kidnap.
Queen, a stylist said she did it because things were extremely difficult for her as her business was no longer doing well because of the coronavirus pandemic.
She said she also did it because she wanted to test if her sister really loved her.
Queen said she came up with the idea after she begged her sister for some money and she refused.
According to the suspect, her intention was to use the money to start a business.
They were arrested after the police tracked the calls they were making for the ransom to Ikule’s house in Mashafa Village, Mpape, Abuja, where they were staying.
Queen, from Benue State, said she left home on Monday July 20, 2020 and called her sister telling her she has been kidnapped and her abductors needed N20, 000 to free her.
The suspect said she asked Ikule to call her sister and tell her she was kidnapped and demand the ransom.
She said the sister asked for an account number to pay the money into but they insisted the money be paid in cash.
The sister eventually did not send the money but reported the matter to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad on July 26, 2020 and they were tracked through her phone number and arrested.
Ikule, who was also paraded, admitted that he called Queen’s sister on her instruction to demand for the money.
He said Queen stayed in his house the entire period she faked the kidnap.
FCT Command Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, said other suspects arrested were for offences including armed robbery, cultism, car theft and fraud.
Among items recovered were 22 sim cards, 26 mobile phones, 21 ammunition, seven locally fabricated master keys, four locally made pistols and four laptops among others.
“May I seize this medium to appreciate the Honourable Minister of FCT, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello and the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Muhammed Abubakar Adamu NPM mni for their continuous support and guidance in making the Command in its fight against crime and criminality.
“I also appreciate our media partners for your objectivity in reporting the giant strides the Command is making in its on-going fight against crime.
“Finally, I wish you and all FCT residents a happy Sallah celebration,” Ciroma said.
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